MEDIA RELEASE: City urges resident to exercise caution, with bad weather conditions set to hit Cape Town The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre has been advised by the South African Weather Service that Cape Town will experience adverse cold and wet conditions over the next few days. The weather warning issued indicates that heavy rain is expected over the Cape Metropole overnight on Tuesday 27 August and into Wednesday 28 August 2013. A cold front is due to set in, with very cold and wet conditions accompanied by gale-force north-westerly winds of 65km/h expected between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas. The Disaster Risk Management Centre and relevant Departments are on high alert, working with the supporting disaster response agencies and public safety authorities. The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre appeals to all Capetonians to please exercise extreme caution during these winter conditions and adhere to the following safety tips: Motorists should slow down and maintain a safe following distances on roadways. Members of the public should stay away from areas such as the Sea Point Promenade, Atlantic Seaboard, False Bay coastline and Strand/Gordon’s Bay beachfront during this period, to avoid the risk of tidal backwash. Private home owners living close to the beach need to be prepared for possible storm surge impacts to their property. Residents can reduce their flood risk by adhering to the following tips: Check and maintain the private drainage facilities on your property to ensure that they are in good working order. Remove any illegal stormwater connections to local sewers, to prevent blockages. Check for dead and burnt trees that could fall onto the property, and notify the authorities if there is a danger. Place sandbags where necessary to protect critical areas. If there is a threat of severe flooding or debris flow to your property, select a route through the property that will cause the least damage (such as a pathway or stairs) and use sandbags to try and confine the flow to that route. Raise the floor level of your home so that it is higher than the land outside. Listen to weather warnings that are issued by the South African Weather Service. Check the terms of your insurance policy with regard to flood and mud damage. Residents are encouraged to report any emergencies to the City’s 107 line. This line can be used if one’s life or property is endangered – the caller will be transferred to the relevant emergency service provider. Dial 107 from a Telkom line or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone. The quicker incidents are reported, the more quickly help can arrive. Flooding, blocked drains and service disruptions can be reported to the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089. Enquiries and/or complaints regarding burst and leaking water mains, faulty and leaking water meters, or blocked and overflowing sewers can also be reported via SMS to 31373. Enquiries and/or complaints regarding electricity faults can be reported via SMS to 31220. The City’s Transport Information Centre can be contacted on 0800 65 64 63 for information on delays on roadways and deviations.
Posted on: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 07:32:27 +0000
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